412 REPTILES AND BIRDS, 
generally brought up by Hens or Turkeys. Although bad nurses 
their fecundity is very great, and when well-fed they lay as many as 
100 eggs in a year; these are much sought after, and epicures prefer 
them to those of the Hen. Their flesh, though good, is not so much 
esteemed as that of the Domestic Fowl. There are now several 
species known in a wild state in Africa, and in a domestic state in 
Europe. They are numerous in Arabia, where they are found in 
little bands composed of a male and several females in the neighbour- 
Fig. 156.—Guinea-fowl. 
hood of marshes. Transported into America after the discovery of 
that continent, the common variety is perfectly acclimated there, and 
is even to be found wild in some of the vast forests and savannahs 
of the West Indies. 
Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) are birds of large size, easily 
distinguished from other gallinacean fowls by the following 
characteristics :—Bare heads and necks, decorated with fleshy 
appendages—those of the neck, which fall under the head in 
front of the bird, are capable of being inflated and much enlarged 
under the influence of love or anger; a brush of long and straight 
hairs hangs at the base of the neck; the tarsi are strong, and 
provided with slightly-developed spurs; lastly, the tail is round, 
